Episodes

  • Hacking It: Ambition, Reinvention, and the Friends We Make Along the Way

    Hacking It: Ambition, Reinvention, and the Friends We Make Along the Way
    Jun 18 2026
    In this episode of PopTorah, we dive into the acclaimed HBO series Hacks. Beneath the sharp jokes and show-business drama lies a surprisingly rich story about reinvention, aging, ambition, and the complicated relationships that shape us. Through the evolving partnership between Deborah and Ava, Hacks asks what we owe one another, whether people can truly change, and how […]
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    41 mins
  • Is The Mandalorian and Grogu the Way?

    Is The Mandalorian and Grogu the Way?
    Jun 4 2026
    Star Wars is back on the big screen, and in this episode of PopTorah, we discuss The Mandalorian and Grogu alongside a broader conversation about the state of Star Wars and franchise storytelling in the age of streaming. What is the difference between fan service and meaningful storytelling? What happens when institutions focus more on keeping insiders happy […]
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    45 mins
  • Man in the Mirror: Fame, Myth, and the Making of Michael (Special Live Episode!)

    Man in the Mirror: Fame, Myth, and the Making of Michael (Special Live Episode!)
    May 14 2026
    In this very special episode of PopTorah, recorded LIVE at Temple Beth El in Stamford, CT in front of a packed sanctuary, we dive into Michael, the long-awaited and deeply complicated biopic about Michael Jackson — an artist whose music reshaped popular culture even as his life and legacy remain fiercely contested. Join us as we […]
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Faith, Friendship, and First Contact in Project Hail Mary

    Faith, Friendship, and First Contact in Project Hail Mary
    Apr 28 2026
    In this spoiler-filled episode of PopTorah, we dive into Project Hail Mary, a sci-fi space adventure starring Ryan Gosling. What begins as a desperate mission to save humanity becomes something far more intimate — a story about unlikely friendship and courageous faith. Join us as we discuss what Project Hail Mary has to say about bridging difference, […]
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    35 mins
  • Unfortunately, it was ‘Paradise’

    Unfortunately, it was ‘Paradise’
    Apr 9 2026
    In this episode of PopTorah, we break down Hulu’s Paradise — a gripping, twist-filled series about a so-called perfect society that quickly reveals its cracks. With full spoilers, we explore how Paradise wrestles with power, control, and the moral cost of creating order out of chaos. Drawing on Jewish tradition, we unpack the dangers of manufactured perfection […]
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    42 mins
  • Sinners, Saints, and One Battle After Another: The 2026 Oscars Episode

    Sinners, Saints, and One Battle After Another: The 2026 Oscars Episode
    Mar 26 2026
    In this special Oscars episode of PopTorah, we dive into two of the most talked-about films of the year: Sinners and One Battle After Another. Both films wrestle with big questions about morality, power, violence, and the stories people tell to justify their actions. What does it mean to be called a “sinner”? Are we trapped in cycles of […]
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    46 mins
  • Power, Persona, and Purpose in Marvel’s “Wonder Man”

    Power, Persona, and Purpose in Marvel’s “Wonder Man”
    Mar 12 2026
    In this episode of PopTorah, we dive into Marvel’s newest Disney+ series, “Wonder Man.” This isn’t just another superhero origin story. The show explores the tension between public image and inner truth, the seduction of fame, discovering your purpose and finding your people, and the difficulty of balancing safety and freedom. It’s a meta Hollywood […]
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    45 mins
  • If You Got It, Flaunt It: Mel Brooks at 99

    If You Got It, Flaunt It: Mel Brooks at 99
    Feb 19 2026
    In this episode of PopTorah, Rabbis Knopf and Olitzky talk about Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, the HBO Max documentary celebrating Mel Brooks and a lifetime of unapologetic comedy. From The Producers to Blazing Saddles, Brooks never hid what he was doing or why — using laughter to mock power, puncture tyranny, and refuse the demand for Jewish silence or […]
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    35 mins